2017 SEC Country Power Poll: Where Texas A&M is ranked (Week 8)

After four consecutive weeks of tooth-and-nail SEC games, Texas A&M got a rest this week before jumping back into conference play Saturday.

Last week, the Aggies won at Florida, 19-17, one week after giving No. 1 Alabama its toughest game of the season in a 27-19 setback. Texas A&M previously beat South Carolina, 24-17, and outlasted Arkansas in overtime, 50-43.

After climbing to fourth in the SEC Country Power Poll rankings last week, the Aggies held on to that spot barely as LSU closed the gap. The two are now tied at No. 4. With its 40-24 win against Ole Miss, LSU pulled even with the Aggies sitting out this week. The 25 SEC Country Power Poll voters had A&M voted as high as third and no lower than seventh.

The top three teams remained the same with Alabama occupying No. 1 as it has all season, followed by Georgia and Auburn.

The Aggies (5-2, 3-1 in SEC) are led by freshman quarterback Kellen Mond. Mond was throw to the fire in the Week 1 loss at UCLA when starting QB Nick Starkel went down with an injury. The freshman is completing 53.6 percent of his passes for 1,225 yards, 7 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. He’s also run the ball 80 times for 318 yards and 3 TDs.

Dynamic receiver/kicker returner Christian Kirk has been Mond’s favorite target. He has 29 receptions for 360 yards and a team-best 5 touchdown receptions. Kirk also averages 26.9 yards on kickoff returns and has a 100-yard return for a TD this season. As a punt returner, Kirk averages 11.4 yards per return on 5 returns.

Texas A&M plays Mississippi State on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, and then gets Auburn at home on Saturday, Nov. 4.

Check back here every Sunday for the latest installment of the SEC Country Power Poll.